Results tagged “flushot”

Earlier this week Google Maps launched a flu shot finder at http://www.google.com/flushot. Google said it has "been working with HHS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local health agencies to gather information on flu vaccine locations across the country, particularly for the H1N1 flu vaccine (both the nasal-spray vaccine and the shot)."

Yesterday, the city's program to give NYC school students swine flu vaccines began at 125 elementary schools. A 9-year-old at PS 157 in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn who received an injection told the Daily News, "My mom told me that the flu would hurt more than the shot...It felt a little bit sharp, and it kind of hurted." Aww.

The city announced its plan to combat the H1N1 virus—the swine flu—this fall, and it leads with offering school-aged children free vaccines. The city also emphasized that all New Yorkers get vaccinated for seasonal as well as swine flu (whenever that vaccine is ready) early. Mayor Bloomberg said, "Today is the first of what will be many efforts to keep New Yorkers informed about what we are doing to prepare for the return of the H1N1 and seasonal flu. We can't predict this year's flu season, but we can make sure that City government is fully prepared for whatever happens."

Though the Department of Health and Human Services is warning that swine flu vaccines may not take full effect until Thanksgiving, city officials say they don't think the flu will shutter schools.

With city health officials marking their calendars for a possible swine flu resurgence this fall, plans are now being laid to dole out the soon-to-be-ready flu vaccine. The NY Daily News reports today that children, pregnant women, and health care workers are top priority for the vaccine, the supply of which is expected to be "ample." Says Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley: "It's on track. We're told it may be available in mid-October." He explains that the first shots will go to kids, possibly even via "special immunization clinics in schools," since kids tend to be little walking disease vectors, spreading flu among themselves and bringing it back home to their families. Farley also adds that the city will need more than a million doses to avoid vaccine shortages, though his office has since clarified that number "wasn't based on data or calculations" and that "the city has no real idea of how much H1N1 vaccine is coming, or when."

A ninth person has died from swine flu, according to the NYC Health Department: "The death occurred in a person in their mid-50s with an underlying condition that increased the risk of severe illness from flu." So far, 428 New Yorkers have been hospitalized and there are 694 confirmed cases of swine flu. Yesterday, acting director of the CDC Dr. Richard Besser said that people could very well be getting two flu shots—one for the regular flu, another for the H1N1 virus—this fall, because health officials expect the swine flu to come back, "My biggest concern is complacency, a sense that we dodged a bullet here. I don't think we can let our guard down." He added that the CDC would take the summer to examine the effect of the school closures, "Clearly, schools can be seen as an area where there's a multiplier effect. But you also have to understand what happens when the schools close. Where do the children go? Do they become less of a multiplier or more of a multiplier? I don't know that we have the answers to any of that."

It's Flu Season! Last week, Mayor Bloomberg got his flu shot and the Health Department recommends that "everyone who wants to reduce the risk of influenza should get vaccinated this year." Flu season can extend into May,

Well, this explains a lot: The Center for Disease Control and Protection says this year's flu shot is only good for 40% of the flu bugs going around. Thanks a lot, new strains of flu viruses that are kicking people's butts!

The Health Department revealed that cases of the flu have increased 19% since November. Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Frieden said urged New Yorkers who haven't gotten a flu shot yet to do so.